Array ( [id] => 2 [link] => [name] => [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 7 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/7-online-resources [name] => Online resources [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 378 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/378-the-council-of-europe-in-brief [name] => The Council of Europe in brief [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 364 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/364-map-of-the-member-states [name] => Map of the member states [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 381 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/381-an-overview [name] => An overview [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 408 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/408-annual-activity-report [name] => Annual activity report [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 170 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/170-human-rights [name] => Human rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 172 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/172-european-convention-on-human-rights [name] => European Convention on Human Rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 374 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/374-fundamental-freedoms [name] => Fundamental freedoms [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 191 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/191-violence-against-women [name] => Violence against women [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 187 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/187-children-s-rights [name] => Children's rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 192 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/192-trafficking-in-human-beings [name] => Trafficking in human beings [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [5] => Array ( [id] => 372 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/372-refugees [name] => Refugees [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [6] => Array ( [id] => 176 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/176-death-penalty [name] => Death penalty [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [7] => Array ( [id] => 177 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/177-prevention-of-torture [name] => Prevention of torture [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [8] => Array ( [id] => 178 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/178-racism [name] => Racism [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 179 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/179-democracy [name] => Democracy [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 180 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/180-local-democracy [name] => Local democracy [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 182 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/182-elections [name] => Elections [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 181 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/181-world-forum-for-democracy [name] => World Forum for Democracy [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 413 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/413-civil-society [name] => Civil society [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 233 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/233-law [name] => Law [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 234 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/234-organised-crime [name] => Organised crime [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 235 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/235-corruption [name] => Corruption [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 237 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/237-data-protection [name] => Data protection [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 175 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/175-european-prison-reform [name] => European prison reform [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 238 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/238-terrorism [name] => Terrorism [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [5] => Array ( [id] => 239 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/239-efficiency-of-justice [name] => Efficiency of justice [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [6] => Array ( [id] => 379 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/379-international-law [name] => International law [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 193 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/193-society [name] => Society [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 194 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/194-living-together-diversity-and-freedom-in-europe [name] => Living Together - Diversity and Freedom in Europe [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 195 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/195-european-social-charter [name] => European Social Charter [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 205 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/205-drugs-and-addictions [name] => Drugs and addictions [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 196 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/196-migration [name] => Migration [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 197 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/197-council-of-europe-development-bank [name] => Council of Europe Development Bank [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [5] => Array ( [id] => 222 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/222-lgbt [name] => LGBT [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [6] => Array ( [id] => 223 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/223-people-with-disabilities [name] => People with disabilities [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [7] => Array ( [id] => 190 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/190-gender-equality [name] => Gender equality [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [5] => Array ( [id] => 198 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/198-new-technologies-medias [name] => New technologies / Medias [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 199 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/199-internet [name] => Internet [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 200 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/200-children-and-the-internet [name] => Children and the Internet [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 201 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/201-media [name] => Media [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 202 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/202-cybercrime [name] => Cybercrime [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 410 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/410-artificial-intelligence [name] => Artificial intelligence [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [id] => 203 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/203-health [name] => Health [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 204 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/204-bioethics [name] => Bioethics [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 206 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/206-medicines [name] => Medicines [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 207 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/207-health-care [name] => Health care [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [7] => Array ( [id] => 208 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/208-culture-heritage-nature [name] => Culture, heritage, nature [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 210 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/210-european-cultural-convention [name] => European Cultural Convention [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 211 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/211-intercultural-and-interreligious-dialogue [name] => Intercultural and interreligious dialogue [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 212 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/212-environment [name] => Environment [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 214 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/214-culture-and-democracy [name] => Culture and democracy [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 397 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/397-cultural-heritage [name] => Cultural heritage [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [8] => Array ( [id] => 215 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/215-the-council-of-europe-and-the-european-union [name] => The Council of Europe and the European Union [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 216 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/216-different-roles-shared-values [name] => Different roles, shared values [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 217 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/217-partnerships [name] => Partnerships [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [9] => Array ( [id] => 218 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/218-minority-rights [name] => Minority rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 219 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/219-national-minorities [name] => National minorities [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 220 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/220-minority-languages [name] => Minority languages [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 221 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/221-roma-and-travellers [name] => Roma and Travellers [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [10] => Array ( [id] => 224 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/224-education [name] => Education [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 226 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/226-teaching-history [name] => Teaching History [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 393 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/393-human-rights-democratic-citizenship-and-interculturalism [name] => Human rights, democratic citizenship and interculturalism [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 394 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/394-language-learning [name] => Language learning [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 398 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/398-teacher-education [name] => Teacher education [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [11] => Array ( [id] => 382 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/382-youth [name] => Youth [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 392 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/392-youth-in-europe [name] => Youth in Europe [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [12] => Array ( [id] => 383 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/383-sport [name] => Sport [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 384 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/384-sport-for-all [name] => Sport for all [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 390 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/390-doping [name] => Doping [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 391 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/391-violence-in-sport [name] => Violence in sport [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [13] => Array ( [id] => 240 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/240-institutions [name] => Institutions [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 242 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/242-parliamentary-assembly [name] => Parliamentary Assembly  [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 243 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/243-congress-of-local-and-regional-authorities [name] => Congress of Local and Regional Authorities  [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 244 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/244-european-court-of-human-rights [name] => European Court of Human Rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 245 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/245-human-rights-commissioner [name] => Human Rights Commissioner [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [4] => Array ( [id] => 246 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/246-conference-of-ingos [name] => Conference of INGOs [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [5] => Array ( [id] => 247 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/247-conferences-on-the-future-of-the-european-court-of-human-rights [name] => Conferences on the future of the European Court of Human Rights [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [14] => Array ( [id] => 386 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/386-resources-for-young-people [name] => Resources for young people [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 387 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/387-6-10-years [name] => 6 - 10 years [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 389 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/389-11-18-years [name] => 11 - 18 years [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [15] => Array ( [id] => 402 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/402-resources-for-teachers [name] => Resources for teachers [desc] => [children] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 404 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/404-educational-tools [name] => Educational tools [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 407 [link] => https://edoc.coe.int/en/407-history-teaching [name] => History teaching [desc] => [children] => Array ( ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1

Catalog

Newsletter

Bookshop

Online bookshop

Sexual violence and harmful sexual behaviour displayed by children: Nature, causes, consequences and responses (2025)

Children's rights
Format : PDF PDF
048125GBR
Type of document :
Report
Format :
PDF
Language :
English
Size :
1.90 MB
Number of pages :
53
Prof. Simon Hackett
Free
Tax excluded
Download
Fichier indisponible, contactez-nous pour plus d'informations
To receive multiple printed copies, subject to availability, please contact us
Peer violence and harmful sexual behaviour by children: a serious challenge requiring appropriate measures

This review looks to summarise key findings relating specifically to children with problematic and abusive sexual behaviours. It seeks to:
• provide an overview of the types of sexual violence or harmful sexual behaviours carried out by children1;
• explore the source, motivations or reasons for these behaviours and possible contributing factors;
• analyse existing preventive, educational, therapeutic, legal and other responses to these behaviours and tools to support member states in preventing and dealing with these behaviours and supporting children who display them.

This review places the human rights of the child at its centre. The focus is on the provision of support to children displaying these behaviours and on broader preventative measures which maximise the rights of all children affected. Although neither a systematic review of all of the evidence on harmful sexual behaviour in childhood, nor a comprehensive mapping exercise of legal and policy responses to the topic within Europe is possible within the scope of this paper, where appropriate, comparative European literature approaches are drawn upon.
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 
PART I. STUDY ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR DISPLAYED BY CHILDREN: NATURE, CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSES 
About the author 
Scope and purpose of the report 
Executive Summary 
PART II. INTRODUCTION 
1. How to describe the problem of sexual abuse by children 
2. The state of the evidence base on children who display harmful sexual behaviours 
3. The scale of the problem 
4. Framing the problem 
PART III. WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TYPES OF HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR EXHIBITED BY CHILDREN? 
PART IV. WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DISPLAY HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS? 
1. Male adolescents who sexually abuse others 
2. Pre-pubescent children with sexual behaviour problems 
3. Girls with harmful sexual behaviours 
4. Young people with intellectual disabilities who present with harmful sexual behaviours 
5. Young people who commit sexual offences facilitated by information and communication technologies 
6. Young people who sexually abuse others in the context of groups and gangs 
7. Families of young people with harmful sexual behaviours 
8. What is known about the impact of children’s harmful sexual behaviours? 
PART V. CAUSES AND FACTORS THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS 
1. Attachment and family problems 
2. Prior sexual victimisation 
3. Physical abuse, neglect and exposure to family violence 
4. Exposure to pornography and lack of sexuality education 
5. Masculinity and gender 
6. Environmental and institutional factors 
PART VI. RESPONSES TO HARMFUL SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS 
1. A prevention approach 
2. Primary prevention approaches 
3. Secondary prevention approaches 
4. Tertiary prevention approaches 
PART VII. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS 
1. Younger children with problematic sexual behaviours 
2. Therapeutic interventions for adolescents with harmful sexual behaviours 
3. Developmentally sensitive and holistic approaches 
4. Rehabilitative, resilience and desistance approaches 
5. Family support approaches 
PART VIII. SUMMARY OF KEY LESSONS PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT 
PART IX. REFERENCES

Similar themes